A Book on Birds 



The ideal season to study birds in this 

 climate is of course the spring, when most 

 of them sing to a greater extent, and make 

 themselves in every way more conspicuous 

 than when the hot summer months set in. 



This, however, is true of each locality 

 only as to birds that nest within its limits. 



For in our latitude the migratory birds 

 can be found in large numbers in the fall 

 also, when they often linger with us for 

 many days in flocks on their passage south- 

 ward, if the prevailing weather be pro- 

 pitious. 



And the ideal time for best results is 

 that ^'witching" hour before breakfast 

 when the '^sun peeps over the hills;" at 

 which moment it seems to be instinctive 

 with every bird to lift his voice in melody, 

 even though he keep complete silence 

 (as many do) during the heat and burden 

 of the day. If sunrise, how^ever, is not 

 attractive to you, sunset will do nearly 

 as well — provided 3^ou do not count on 

 seeing many after the sun has actually 

 disappeared. 



[18] 



